Alex Gallacher (SA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Defence, Senator Payne. I refer to the Liberal Party's election promise to build 12 future submarines in Adelaide. Can the minister confirm that today is the deadline for the responses to the government's so-called competitive evaluation progress for the Future Submarine program? How many submarines were the participants requested to tender for as part of the competitive evaluation process?

Marise Payne (NSW, Liberal Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Gallacher for his question. Today is the day on which it is expected that submissions will be received from the three proponents in the competitive evaluation process for the future submarines. Those participants are DCNS of France, TKMS of Germany and the government of Japan, as is well known. The competitive evaluation process seeks from the proponents a very comprehensive response in the submissions that they are forwarding to the government. It seeks a large amount of technical information, quite clearly and self-evidently. It will be considered in due course by Defence, by the future submarines office, and advice will be provided to government.

In relation to the details of the submarine process, as the senator well knows, they are indeed an integral part of the white paper, the integrated investment program and the defence industry policy, which will be released in the first quarter of next year, as I indicated at the Submarine Institute conference in Adelaide about two weeks ago now.

Alex Gallacher (SA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. Does the minister agree that no less than 12 future submarines must be built to provide the defence capability our nation needs and a viable future for our vital shipbuilding industry?

Marise Payne (NSW, Liberal Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I made it quite clear in this chamber and I made it quite clear at the Submarine Institute speech that we regard the future submarines as an essential component of capability—absolutely essential. I think I spoke on that in the chamber in response to a question just last week. As I have said very clearly in relation to the size of the fleet, those matters are matters for consideration in the defence white paper, in the integrated investment program and in the defence industry policy statement, which will be released in the first quarter of next year.

Alex Gallacher (SA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a further supplementary question. Will the Liberal government keep its election promise and build 12 future submarines in my home state of South Australia?

Senator Edwards interjecting—

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order, Senator Edwards!

Marise Payne (NSW, Liberal Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I would encourage Senator Gallacher to have a constructive conversation with his colleague Senator Conroy, the shadow minister for defence, who, when we have had the opportunity to discuss the development of the white paper, the IIP, the defence industry policy statement and the competitive evaluation process, indicated that the government should take the appropriate time—

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Pause the clock.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I rise on a point of order on direct relevance. I am sure the minister is very interested in what Senator Conroy has to say but the question was very specific: will the Liberal government keep its election promise and build 12 future submarines in my home state of South Australia? I request that she come to the question.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order on my right?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Just answer the question.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On the point of order, Senator Wong, I will remind the minister of the question. Minister.

Marise Payne (NSW, Liberal Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you very much. If I had delivered a white paper in 2009 and 2013 that was completely uncosted and completely undeliverable, I would be embarrassed too. If I had not placed an order for one single naval vessel in six years, I would be embarrassed too. I can understand—

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Pause the clock.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I rise on a point of order—again, it is direct relevance. What is embarrassing is a minister refusing to answer the question. Answer the question.

Mathias Cormann (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Finance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, on the point of order: Senator Payne was clearly directly relevant to the question. She was providing directly relevant context in response to the question that was asked.

Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, on the point of order: the minister is actually quoting directly from Tony Abbott's speaking points from prior to the change in prime ministership. She is not remotely relevant to the question she has now been asked three times.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you. You are starting to debate it, Senator Conroy.

Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I ask you bring her back to the question.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! I do not need any further assistance with this point of order. I will remind the minister of the question. The minister has 23 seconds in which to answer the question.

Marise Payne (NSW, Liberal Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

There is nothing more directly relevant to the question asked by Senator Gallacher than the defence white paper, the integrated investment program and the defence industry policy statement.

Kim Carr (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister Assisting the Leader for Science) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, on a point of order on direct relevance, this minister has been asked how many submarines were requested for tender, was asked if it was any less than 12 and—a third question—three times has been asked how the government will now keep its promise on 12 submarines, not eight—because that is what the tenderers were asked to bid on, weren't they, Minister?

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! You are debating it now, Senator Carr. Minister, on the point of order?

Marise Payne (NSW, Liberal Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

No, I was going to continue my answer.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Just a moment. I have to rule on the point of order. Thank you, Minister. We are only dealing with the final supplementary question, Senator Carr. The question was: will the Liberal government keep its election promise to build 12 submarines? That was the question. I remind the minister of the question and advise her she has 14 seconds in which to answer.

Marise Payne (NSW, Liberal Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

For the benefit of those opposite, let me be very clear: the number of submarines, the build, will be addressed in the Defence white paper, in the integrated investment program and in the Defence Industry Policy Statement.